Phonique

Under the name Phonique, Michael Vater has developed since the early 2000s a career tied to German deep house, spanning production, DJ sets and event promotion. Born in Cologne and settled in Berlin in the mid-1990s, Phonique became part of the capital’s club scene before releasing his first maxis, including So Close To Me in 2001. His music takes the form of deep, melodic house built on supple grooves, understated electronic textures and a consistent place for vocals. Phonique broadened his audience with the track The Red Dress in 2004, recorded with Die Elfen, and released the album Identification the same year, which features For The Time Being with Erlend Øye. That collaboration continued around Øye’s DJ-Kicks project. Phonique followed with Good Idea in 2007 and Kissing Strangers in 2010, a record that extended his approach to elegant, often sung house with an opening toward more pop-leaning and contemplative moods. After a quieter period, Phonique returned with Green Supreme in 2017 on his label Ladies & Gentlemen, confirming the continuity of a body of work situated between Berlin, the European club circuit and a deep-house register with clearly defined melodic contours.